Although Dwele has had somewhat of a short career as a commercially avaliable artist, he has a vast catalogue of material currently unreleased that die-hard fans revere as some of his best work, considerably superior to his material released as a signed artist that showcases the true depth of his artistic and diverse talent, displayed without constraint.
Gardner was raised on the west side of Detroit in a musical family. He played piano from the age of six, later taking up trumpet, bass and guitar. He was deeply affected by the fatal shooting of his father outside his home when he was age ten, later stating "I learned to put my emotions into music; it was my therapy."
He cites Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Roy Ayers, Miles Davis, and Freddie Hubbard as favorite artists, and took inspiration from hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, becoming an MC, and working with Slum Village. Gardner recorded a demo in his bedroom, called, The Rize, and sold it out of the trunk of his car. He had about 100 copies, which sold out within a week. He caught the ears of local heroes Slum Village and more specifically their world-renowned producer J Dilla. Slum Village invited Dwele to sing the hook of the song "Tainted" for their album Trinity (Past, Present and Future). It became an instant classic and led to more high profile work with female rapper Bahamadia, the all-star group Lucy Pearl and London's New Sector Movement. Dwele signed to Virgin Records in 2003, who released his debut album, Subject, which mixed neo soul and hip hop. In a 2005 review in The Independent, his style was summed up: "Dwele's rooted in vintage soul but isn't stuck in the past, overly reverential or an exercise in pastiche - there's a major hip-hop edge which betrays his original incarnation as a rapper." A second album, Some Kinda..., followed in 2005. He then later signed with RT Music Group and KOCH records in March, 2008. He is coming out with his fourth album titled, W.W.W. (W.ants. W.orld. W.omen) coming out June 29, 2010. Dwele was recently featured on the first single off of Kanye West's fifth studio album, Good Ass Job. The song was entitled "Power" and was leaked on May 28, 2010.
Going Leaving
Dwele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't even keep in touch
i hate i just lost a very good friend
she could've been my one true love (yeah)
she wanted more, but I wasn't ready
(living my life. loving the fame)
me keeping it real made her heart heavy
And i can admit it
scared me when she said
Where is this going?
I said i'm not ready
she said she's leaving
sumthin bout her clock ticking
and she wants children
ho
look what you've done to me
you found you a brand new love
Atleast you call me ever now and again (ha)
to playfully rub it in
But when I ask you are you happy
(there is a sigh, painfully YES!)
but one year later, you got married
(I asked you why, you said you were pressed)
Now it hurts me
when i hear you say
You don't know where this is going
You're not ready
And you're leaving
time is still ticking
but now your expecting children
Now she's single
and I'm seeing more of her
I realize
the more time we spend together
the more i miss her
who she was
It's not the same
she's changed
now she got a daughter
I'm wondering
what role she'll play in my life
and me and hers
and I don't know
where this is going
now i'm ready
as a friend no more leaving
break the clock no more ticking
i'll be there for your children
be there to hold you
help you pick up your pieces
oh
can't let it all fall apart
In Dwele's song "Going Leaving," he reflects on a past relationship that caused him to lose a good friend. He admits that he was not ready for a serious commitment while she seemed to want more from him. Dwele's honesty about his feelings toward her ended up hurting her and pushing her away. She eventually found someone new and started a family, leaving Dwele feeling regretful and wondering what could have been.
As time passes, Dwele and his ex-girlfriend reconnect as friends, but with the added complication of her having a child. He realizes that he still misses the person she used to be and wonders what role he will play in her life and the life of her child. Ultimately, he decides that he wants to be there for her, as a friend and supporter to help her pick up the pieces of her life and be there for her children.
The lyrics showcase the complexities of relationships and how difficult it can be when both parties want different things. Dwele's honesty and vulnerability in reflecting on his past mistakes show growth and maturity, and his desire to be there for his ex-girlfriend and her family is a heartwarming sentiment.
Line by Line Meaning
look what you've done to me
You caused me emotional pain and distress.
I can't even keep in touch
I am unable to maintain regular communication with you.
i hate i just lost a very good friend
I regret losing a person who was important to me.
she could've been my one true love (yeah)
I believe that she had the potential to be my soulmate.
she wanted more, but I wasn't ready
She desired a deeper and more committed relationship, but I was not prepared to offer that.
(living my life. loving the fame)
I was focused on enjoying my own life and the attention that comes with my fame.
me keeping it real made her heart heavy
My honesty had a negative impact on her emotions and well-being.
(i should have lied, stayed in the game)
I should have been dishonest and continued to engage in casual relationships.
And i can admit it
I acknowledge my mistake.
scared me when she said
I was afraid when she expressed her feelings and desires.
Where is this going?
What is the future of our relationship?
I said i'm not ready
I stated that I was not prepared for a serious commitment.
she said she's leaving
She informed me that she was ending the relationship.
sumthin bout her clock ticking
She was concerned about her biological clock and having children.
and she wants children
She desired to have offspring.
look what you've done to me
You are responsible for the impact that this situation had on me.
you found you a brand new love
You moved on and found a new romantic partner.
Atleast you call me ever now and again (ha)
You occasionally reach out to me, even though we are no longer in a relationship.
to playfully rub it in
You derive pleasure from teasing me about your new relationship.
But when I ask you are you happy
I inquired if you are content in your new relationship.
(there is a sigh, painfully YES!)
You responded affirmatively, but your tone and demeanor suggested that it was a difficult question to answer.
but one year later, you got married
You remarried after only one year of being with your new partner.
(I asked you why, you said you were pressed)
I wanted to know the reason for your hasty marriage, and you explained that you felt pressured.
Now it hurts me
I am now experiencing emotional pain.
when i hear you say
It is painful for me to hear you talk about your current life.
You don't know where this is going
You are uncertain about the future of your current relationship.
You're not ready
You are not prepared for a significant commitment.
And you're leaving
You may end your current relationship.
time is still ticking
Your biological clock is still a concern.
but now your expecting children
You are now pregnant with a child.
Now she's single
She is no longer in a relationship.
and I'm seeing more of her
I am spending more time with her now that she is single.
I realize
I have come to a new understanding.
the more time we spend together
As we spend more time together, I am beginning to have deeper feelings for her.
the more i miss her
I am increasingly nostalgic for how she used to be and our previous relationship.
who she was
I miss the person that she used to be, before she changed.
It's not the same
Things have changed since we were last together.
she's changed
She is no longer the person that she used to be.
now she got a daughter
She now has a child.
I'm wondering
I am curious about.
what role she'll play in my life
I am uncertain about the extent of our future relationship.
and me and hers
Both of our futures are uncertain.
and I don't know
I am uncertain about.
where this is going
I am unclear about how this situation may evolve in the future.
now i'm ready
I have come to the realization that I am now prepared for a significant commitment.
as a friend no more leaving
I am now committed to being in a more significant relationship with her.
break the clock no more ticking
We are no longer concerned about the pressure of biological clocks and children.
i'll be there for your children
I am now committed to supporting her and her children.
be there to hold you
I am committed to being emotionally supportive to her.
help you pick up your pieces
I am committed to assisting her through her difficult times.
can't let it all fall apart
We must ensure that our relationship stays intact and does not crumble.
Contributed by Savannah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SonofSamhein
I remember when he had JUST dropped this album, and this was my shit (along "Obey", 'cause...yeahhhhh*lmaoo*...).
Fast forward, and:
...I am--presently--living out these EXACT lyrics of this very song :^/.
Except, the "brand new love" is her up until this year estranged husband, who she was SUPPOSEDLY going to divorce, so that we could be together forever, once our children were grown (all teens).
Ahhhhhhh, life:
...We shall see if we will reconnect like Dwele and his lady friend did in this very track; or, if we'll merely have to wait until next lifetime, on some Ms Badu-shit.
Welp...enough of story-time:
...The song is DOPE, and so is the artist.
Nuff said.
Salute, young brother: keep making tracks with MEANING, for us.
One Love...
@Skotch_Korean
One of the VERY few albums I can listen to without skipping a track.
@moereala0836
Dwele is the truth...true definition of NeoSoul. U can play at the family barbeque, after a long day of work, or jus chillin wit a lady friend... always good vibes✌🏾🎶
@africanbella28
So true❤️
@lovelysoul30
Dwele is so underrated... His music is timeless...
@prettynikki3667
Roxy & Josh Channel Right.. Don't make no sense his music is better than MOST
@bigben1986
Superbly
@kinchisully7586
I have never heard a wack song from this dude. So underrated..
@deidremaynard9197
Exactly
@bigben1986
hahahahah Yo, I said the same exact thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@nikiegrant-harris3582
So 👍🏽 agree